I guess I am out of touch... someone played Fastkill and Cross Examination for me the other night and I was crushed to the ground fucking wow.

Fastkill was great, screechy vocals and nonstop brutal drumming in the style of early Demolition Hammer. Cross Ex. was a bit more punky but with similar high-speed thrash/hc riffs. Neither band is really about the riffs though, it's just the energy of it all.

Japan has some of the best bands going right now, adding Hellhound and Terror Squad to the conversation... what else am I missing?

The first Fastkill album was quite a rush. I havn't heard the new one yet.
I don't think the logo fits them too well. But that's just me._________________Addicted to Leather and Speed!
http://www.freewebs.com/metalstormzine/

Dunno how strictly Japanese they are but Ritual Carnage 'The Highest Law' is a contemporary thrash masterpiece in my opinion._________________Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
If god won't help me
Then the devil must...

Terror squad are my ultimate favourites out of the current thrash bands. Fastkill are pretty decent too but not as interesting as Terror Squad. Oh well, TS are in their own league in the first place I think, interesting to see how far will they go next time. Tech-prog-rock-classic-punk speed metal._________________Heyyy